Medicare Fraud Crackdown Leads to Charges Across US

A key facet to President Obama’s health care reform initiative has been eliminating health care fraud throughout the United States. Yesterday, charges were announced against 91 individuals, accusing them of fraudulently obtaining approximately $300 million from the Medicare system. One of the most shocking indictments involves a doctor billing Medicare for services provided to the deceased, as well as providing psycotherapy sessions in excess of 24 hours a day.

US Attorney General Eric Holder announced the arrests yesterday with Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary. FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry said in a statement: “[T]he health care system is part of our nation’s infrastructure, and we must do everything in our power to protect the integrity of Medicare.”

On many levels, the Obamacare initiative has been a polarizing issue for the American people. It will certainly remain so througout the upcoming presidential campaign, as both politicians and voters take sides to debate its value, constitutionality, and long-term effects. One issue that does not seem to be in debate, however, is the need to stop Medicare fraud from adversely affecting our elder population and diverting funds from this segment of our population most in need of them. The announcement of these arrests yesterday marks a victory for the fight against Medicare fraud as well as for our elderly population much in need of Medicare’s continued financial support.